Mailing tube closure



Sept. 5, 1950 J. SURKS MAILING TUBE CLOSURE Filed Jan. 22, 1947 n0 1 I'll. H

FIG-7 JII Fig.6

FIGA- Flq INVENTOR Patented Sept. 5, 1950 UNITED STATES *PATENT OFFICE 2,521,613 1 'j MAILING TUBE CLOSURE Jacob Surks, Brooklyn, N. Y.

Application January 22, 1947, Serial No. 723,505

3 Claims. (01. 229-43) This invention relates to closures for mailing tubes.

Prior inventions involved cardboard tubes with metal tabs, covers, folded over paper, etc. These methods involve expense or insecurity which the present invention aims to reduce.

Figure l in the drawings is a paper closure cut out as shown and slotted at I and foldable at the dotted lines 2, 3 and having tabs 4, and extensions 6, I.

Figure 2 shows the closure folded over at lines 2, 3 and tab I inserted within a slot I.

Figure 3 is a section taken at AA of Figure 2.

Figure 4 is a side elevation of the mailing tube l2 with pairs of slots 8, 9 and l0, I on respectively opposite sides at each end of the tube I2.

Figure 5 is the tube of Figure 4 turned 90 on its axis.

Figure 6 is a top view of the tube l2 cut away at the slots 8, 9 and with the folded assembly of Figure 2 inserted in said slots 8, 9.

Figure 7 shows a slotted tube l2 slotted at one end with the slots 8, 9. Within these slots has been placed the closure shown in Figure l and with tabs 4, 5 resting against the inner wall of the tube l2 and with the extensions 6, I resting within the respective slots 8, 9.

Figure 8 is a section of Figure 7 taken at 3-13.

The paper closure is preferably prefolded along the lines 2, 3 and tab 4 is inserted within slot l for use when ready. The slot 1 is not essential but only an optional handling convenience. The tab 5 is also optional. The tab 4 may be also dispensed with but it is useful as an aid to the withdrawing of the enclosure after it has served its purpose.

After the tube l2 has been loaded with its contents the folded closure of Figure 2 is inserted within a pair of slots 8, 9. One end of the tube may have another type of closure or the closure being described may have been inserted in one pair of the slots In, H, before loading of the tube [2.

The folded closure is now opened and pressed out as in Figures '7 and 8. The tab 4 or the tabs 4, 5 depending on whether one or both are used, are now snugly against the inner sides of the tube I2 and are ready to be used as handles for removal.

It will now be seen that the closure is an inexpensive device. It will also be seen that it secures the contents against being dislodged through shaking of the contents in its passage through the mails and associated handling. The contents pressing against the closure will force 2 it against the pairs of slots 8, 9 or II), II. The closure itself cannot fall through the slots for in its opened state it is wider than the slots. A pair of slots may be inserted at any portion of the tube and the closure may then be used as a partition.

From the foregoing description, it will be seen that a very simple and efficient device has been provided as a closure for a mailin tube and it should be further understood that certain changes in its construction may be employed without departing from the spirit of the invention so long as such changes fall within the scope of the appended claims.

Having described my invention, What I claim as new and useful is:

l. A tube having an open end and a closure therefor, said tube being of substantially circular cross-section and having opposite annular slots adjacent said open end; said closure being substantially circular and having an area substantially equal to the cross-sectional area of the open end of the tube; said closure having opposed extensions beyond the edge thereof for entry into and engagement with said slots; a pair of fold lines in said closure extending parallel to the axes of said extensions, said closure being foldable to substantially rectangular shape; the width of said folded rectangle being greater than the width of said extensions; said closure being unfoldable in the open end of the tube to close the same after insertion of the extensions in the slots.

2. A tube having an open end and a closure therefor, said tube being of substantially circular cross-section and having opposite annular slots adjacent said open end; said closure being substantially circular and having an area substantially equal to the cross-sectional area of the open end of the tube; said closure having opposed extensions beyond the edge thereof for entry into and engagement with said slots; a pair of fold lines in said closure extending parallel to the axes of said extensions, said closure being foldable to substantially rectangular shape; the Width of said folded rectangle being greater than the width of said extensions; said closure being unfoldable in the open end of the tube to close the same after insertion of the extensions in the slots, an upwardly foldable tab on said closure angularly displaced from said extensions.

3. A tube having an open end and a closure therefor, said tube being of substantially circular cross-section and having opposite annular slots adjacent said open end; said closure being substantially circular and having an area substanlines in said closure extending parallel to the 5 axes of said extensions, said closure being foldable to substantially rectangular shape; the width of said folded rectangle being greater than the width of said extensions, said closure being unfold able in -the? open end offithetubeto close the samafter" insertion of'the extensions in the slots, an upwardly foldable tab on said closure angularly displaced from said extensions, and a slot in said closure substantially oppositesaiii tab and cooperating with said tab to retain the folded, 15

position of the closure prior to insertion of the closure in the tube.

JACOB SURKS.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS m Number Name Date 1,173,752 Smith l Feb. 29, 1916 1,633,605 Prudden June 28, 1927 2,175,058 Knapp Oct. 3, 1939 ;-21-93,521 Roach Mar. 12, 1940 2,353,582 Pearson July 11, 1944 

